Expert views on the legitimacy of renewable hydrogen certification schemes

Abstract

In this article, we draw on findings from a mixed-methods international survey of experts in the energy sector (n = 179) to better understand the role of legitimacy theory in informing the development of renewable hydrogen standards, certification, and labelling (SCL). The investigation is viewed through two conceptions of legitimacy: the sociological legitimacy of increasing the availability of renewable hydrogen technologies and the normative legitimacy of democratic SCL governance. Results revealed that respondents reacted positively to survey statements representing sociological legitimacy, whereas qualitative data exposed some concerns with pragmatic and cognitive legitimacy such as a lack of immediate benefits and poor comprehensibility stemming from sources including economics and energy strategy. Respondents' ratings of the democratic legitimacy of hydrogen SCLs indicated inputs were perceived to have the most legitimacy followed by throughputs, then outputs. The analysis revealed some evidence that features of scheme design and governance may influence experts' evaluations of schemes. Moreover, results indicated an opportunity to increase awareness and knowledge of SCLs within the expert community and societally. This study provides evidence to support the premise that hydrogen SCLs would benefit from pursuing diversity in stakeholder participation, enhancing process transparency, and judging the efficacy of outputs against both decarbonisation and sustainability goals. Attention to these democratic factors, among others, would enhance the capacity of SCLs to contribute to the sociological legitimation of renewable hydrogen technologies.